VLJ is excited to feature Brian Schwartz as our August Volunteer of the Month! Brian is founding member of Schwartz Vinhal & Lomurro Family Law, LLC. He has been dedicated to the practice of family law since receiving his law degree in 1993 from the University of Pittsburgh.
Brian serves as a family law expert with VLJ’s Divorce Program and volunteers in nearly every aspect of the program. He is a regular volunteer at our walk-in legal clinics (and holds a VLJ record for number of clients served in a single clinic!) He has conducted trainings and seminars on divorce law to both VLJ’s clients and to other volunteers. He has taken on full-representation cases for clients with complex family law issues and mentors VLJ staff and other volunteers whenever a question on family law arises. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, Brian has continued to volunteer at VLJ’s new remote divorce clinic, offering expert advice to clients over the phone.
Brian’s commitment to service is evident in every one of his interactions with VLJ clients. He notes that family law is an area that affects all income levels, and that low-income litigants often face special challenges with immigration, eviction, and custody. He believes that “private lawyers are privileged to have our positions” and it is important to serve “clients that could not normally afford our services.” In one notable case, Brian has been a great asset to a client that has been coming to VLJ for over a year. The client has a difficult ongoing divorce mediation and after several visits to our clinic, VLJ staff was stumped on how to proceed. Brian stepped in and counseled the client in-person and then again over the phone to help him strategize and feel more confident about his case.
Through his work at VLJ, Brian has found an opportunity to assist not only VLJ clients, but other volunteers. One of Brian’s favorite parts of volunteering for VLJ is seeing “a large number of non-family law attorneys at clinics.” He enjoys seeing attorneys from different backgrounds working to assist clients and advising them on divorce and family law in whatever way he can.
Thank you Brian for all you do for VLJ and our clients!